Golf shoe



u n.11 L

Nov. 28, 1961 s. sNlTzER 3,010,229

GOLF SHOE Filed Ju ne 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR.

l ATTORNEYS Nov., 28, V1961 s. sNlTzER 3,010,229

GOLF SHOE Filed June 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n 4 I JM INVENTOR. d 5%) 6 v FIGA BY @www ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oce 3,010,229 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,229 GOLF SHOE Saul Sntzer, Worcester, Mass., assignor to B-W Footwear Company, Webster, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,254' 3 Claims. (Cl. 36-2.5)

The present invention relates to shoes. More particularly, this invention relates to a exible sole and heel unit for golf shoes.

In the manufacture of golf shoes, the shoe upper is lasted in the conventional manner and the mid-sole is applied thereto. The outer sole, however, is prepared to receive the golf cleats prior to its application -to the shoe. In laccordance with this process an appropriate number of apertures are punched in -the outer sole. These holes are used for insertion of the golf cleats. The heel is likewise punched with an appropriate number of apertures for the same purpose. A metal plate of suicient area to cover the holes in the sole ,is then cut. Holes are then made in this plate which will be in register with the holes in the outer sole when the plate is placed thereon. A plate is then made for the heel in the same marmer.

These plates are then applied to the sole and heel and are secured in position by lmeans of cleat holders. The cleat holders are inserted in the holes of the plate and extend into the holes in the sole. Generally, the cleat holders consist of a threaded stem or sleeve portion, which extends into the holes, and a flanged head portion which abuts the metal cleat supporting plate. The cleats are then applied to the cleat holders by means of threads which engage the threaded sleeve member of the holder. Tightening up of the cleats thereby simultaneously secures the cleats in position and firmly alxes the plate to the sole. Since shoe soles are generally made of leather, or rubber metallic plates, such as the one described, Eare customarily used to support Ithe cleats. In the absence of such a supporting member the deformable nature of the leather would permit the cleats to work loose.

Inherent in golf shoes made in the manner described above, however, are several distinct disadvantages. Such golf shoes are usually quite expensive. Furthermore,

they are generally very heavy and lack the ilexibility necessary to make them really comfortable. One of the most serious disadvantages, however, is the fact that continued .use of the shoe causes the edge of the metal plate to vide an improved tlexible sole and heel unit for golfy shoes which is less expensive than prior art constructions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lexible sole and heel unit for golf shoes which is lighter in weight than priorV art constructions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sole and heel unit for golf shoes which is more unit comprises a exible resilient outer sole having holes disposed at preselected points therein. There is also provided a resilient heel having holes disposed at preselected points therein. A thin, light, stili, deformable plate adapted to support cleats is in contact with the sole and is provided with holes at preselected points therein in registration with the holes in the sole. A thin, light, flexible plate adapted to support cleats is in contact with the heel which is also provided with holes at preselected points therein in registration with the holes in the heel. Cleat holders are disposed in each of the plate holes. Cleats are secured in the holders to provide the golf sole Aand heel unit.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of making a flexible outer sole and heel unit for a golf shoe. In accordance with the method, holes are punched in the outer sole at preselected points. Holes are also punched in the heel at preselected points. Holes are then punched in a thin, light, stit, deformable plate smaller in area than the sole. These holes are in a configuration such that the holes in the plate will be in register with the holes in the sole. Holes are also punched in va thin, light, flexible plate smaller in area than the heel. These holes are also punched at preselected points such that the holes in this plate will he in register with the holes in the heel. The plates are placed in contact with the sole and heel respectively with Ythe holes in the plates in registration with the holes in the sole and heel. Cleat holders are inserted in each of the holes in the plates, and cleats are attached to the cleat holders to provide the golf shoe sole and heel unit.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an exploded perspective view of a golf shoe illustrating the dexible sole and heel unit of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational section of a portion of the flexible sole and heel unit of the present invention illustrating the structure of an attached cleat;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sole plate used in the present invention for supporting the golf cleats;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heel plate used in the present invention for supporting golf cleats;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cleat holder suchas used in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a dilerent perspective view of the cleat holder of FIG. 5;A i

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cleat such as used in the present invention; l

FIG. 8 is a diierent perspective view of the cleat of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View, partly in sectiongof a golf shoe having the flexible sole and heel unit of the present invention; and,

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of the golf shoe illustrated in FIG. 9.

` Referring now to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. l, there is here shown in exploded view, a golf shoe having a shoe upper 11,'niid-so1e 12, outer sole 13 and heel 14. Also visible in this ligure are the sole cleat supporting plate 1115, heel cleat supporting plate 16 and cleat holders `17. f l

' 17 and cleat supporting plates 15 and 116. lFor example,

the sole and heel cleat supporting plates 15 and 16 in a preferred embodiment of the invention are formed from a thin, fibrous material which has the proper degree of stiness imparted to it by means of resin impregnation. lThe sole and heel plates 15 and 16 should be substantially `thinner than the sole so as not to add excessive weight to the shoe, nor seriously impair the flexibility of the sole.V The plates 15 and y16 should, for obvious reasons,

be smaller in area than the sole and heel respectively and have apertures 19 therein which are adapted to receive the cleat holders 17. The number of apertures 19 will vary, for example, from 8 to 10 on the sole cleat supporting plate 15 and possibly from 4 to 6 on the heel cleat supportingplate 16. The holes 19 may be die cut or formed by some other suitable means.

Also appearing on Vthe sole'and heel cleat supporting plates 15 and '16 are smaller holes 20 whichrare (adapted tovreceiwe the prongs 21 of the cleat holders as more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cleat holder 17 comprises a lianged head 22, and a sleeve or stern portion 23 which may have threads 24 as indicated. rIhe prongs 211 may be formed by means of cutting the circular head in four places and folding down the corners,

as will be obvious from an examination of FIGS. 5 j

and 6. The construction ofthe cleat 18 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. Here it may be observed that the cleat 18 has a tooth 25 aange portion 26 and a threadyed member 27, which is coaxial with the tooth 25 and which is adapted for engagement with the cleatholder .by means ofthreads 24 on the cleat holder sleeve 23`and threads 28 on the `cleatmember 27. To facilitate tight- ,ening of the cleat, a special tool may be used which will engage the serrations 2 9, at the base of the cleat tooth 25, and holes 30 in the cleat llange. To prevent loosen- Ying of the cleat once it is tightened, bosses 30 may be formed *at several points on the ang'e..

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a golf-shoe embodying rthe (10) The outer, sole and heel unit is then placed on a pressure die having a hole cut out for and in registration with each hole in the sole and heel unit so as not to damage the stems or sleeves 23 of the cleat holders.

(ll) The cleats 18 are then screwed on to the sole and heel unit and secured into firm engagement with the cleat holders 17.

(l2) The outer sole and heel unit with ber plate and cleat holders in placelare then cemented and/or stitched and pressed to the `midsole 12 and shoe upper In a preferred yembodiment of the present invention, the outer sole 13 and heel'14 are, forexample, formed from crepe rubber. vHoles punched in thev outer sole 13 are, for example, 11/32 inch in diameter. The holes in the heel 14 are, for example, also 1%,2 inch. The fiber sole cleat supporting plate 15 and heel cleat supporting plate 16 are, for example, %2.inch and are perforated with holes 1%2finch in diameter. 'Ihe holes '20 may be #3 holes. 'I'he thickness of the mid-sole 12 may be, forexample, 3/1@I inch. The thickness of the outer sole 15 may be, for example, W16 inch. The thickness of the heel is, forexample, valso 9i@ inch.

The present invention presents an important step forwardin the art of making golf shoes 'byproviding a lighter, more flexible, more durable, less expensive golf shoe than was Vheretofore available.

While there hasvbeen described what is'at presentconsidered to be thev preferred embodiment of this invention,

'it will be obvious to those 'skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be madetherein Vwithout ldeparting from the invention Vand it is therefore, aimed in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within'the true spiritand scope of the invention. Y r

"What is claimed is: v

1. Ina golf shoe, an upper, an'insolepsecured toV the bottom of the upper, abrous lightweight sole plate SecuredV to the lower face of the insole 4and provided with an Vaperture therethrough,'a cleat holder having'a head with a'flat upper surface'dispo'sed coplanar with the upper surface of the sole plate and with a ste'mexten'ding through the aperture in the plate, an outsole secured lto the bot- `s ole and heel unit of the present invention. The fol-.

lowing steps are illustrative Vof the method of manufacture of such a shoe. Y

(l) 'Ihe shoe upper 11 is lasted in a conventional manner which involves the usual assembly techniques `of pulling thestitched leather over a form, side lasting either by stitching or through the use of a thermoplastic cement and, Yfor example, cement toe lasting. Y (2) The mid-sole 12'is cemented to the upper Y11 and maybe additionally stitched with thread through the upper 11 AVand inner sole.

(3) 'Ihe outer sole 13 is to form the holes y19. y, (4) The heel 14 is'cut tosize and perforated with the holes 19.

A(5)V The fiber cleat supporting plate 15 for the sole cut to sizefand'is perforated Y 13 is cutto size and perforated with the holes 19'and smaller holes. z0.

I(6) The liber cleat supporting plate' 16 lfor the heel is cut and punched with holes 19 and smaller holes`20.

`tom surface of the sole plate and having an aperture aligned with the aperturein the plate, said stem ofthe cleat holder terminating within the vaperture in the outsole, and a cleat having an upwardly extending threaded member screwed into the stem of'the holder and h avinga downwardly extending tooth aligned axially with the threaded "member and V,having an outwardly extending liange against the. bottom surface'of the outsole Vand which compresses the outsole against the plate vwhen the 'cleat is tightened Yin the holder.

2. In a golf shoe as defined 'nk clainiY l, a'serrated section formed at thel top of the' tooth ofthe cleat, and-aphirality of holesinthe .llange of the cleat, said holes and serrated section beingV adapted to register withv'atool for tightening the cleat on the holder.V 1

3, In a golf shoe yas deiine'd in claim l, a. fibrous heel plate secured to thebottom ofthe outsole at 'the heel kporf tion of the outsole and having an aperture therethrough, a

heel cleat holder having a head withra flat uppersurface in the planek of the upperr surface of the heel plate and a f downwardly extending stem disposed in the aperture of the Ywith* each prong Y21 falling intoasm'aller `hole 20.

heel plate, a' heel secured to the lower surface ofthe heel plate 'and'havin g an yaperture therethrough registering with the aperturein the heel plate, the stem ofsaid heel `cleat holder terminating in said 'aperture inthe heel, anda'he'el cleatV having an upwardly extending threaded; member screwed into the 'stem o fthegheel cleat holder and having a downwardly extending tooth axially aligned with the Vtl1readed member and having an outwardly extending flange engaging the` lower surface ofthe h eelf'aridA compressing said heel against the Yheel plate Vwhen the `threaded member is tightened inthe stemofthe'heelcleat'holden said brous sole plate conforming in shape to the forepart of the outsole and the fibrous heel plate conforming in shape to the heel and each being smaller than the forepart of the sole and heel respectively.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,192,150 Pierce et al Feb. 27, 1940 6 Wilcox Dec. 16, 1941 Sobel et al. Apr. 6, 1943 Tubbs Sept. 28, 1943 Vietas et al Dec. 17, 1946 Tarlow Aug. 23, 1949 Anderson Dec. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Nov. 10, 1959 

